Brett Veach prioritizing re-signing Chris Jones, L'Jarius Sneed

[RunKC]

What some of us have been wondering...

HENDERSON, Nev. -- Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach said he is aware of the challenge the organization faces in re-signing both defensive tackle Chris Jones and cornerback L'Jarius Sneed but said it would be an offseason priority to get both players under new contracts.

"Sometimes I look at our situation and I'm like, 'I don't know how we're going to do this,' but we usually work through things systematically and have a list of the priorities,'' Veach said as the Chiefs continued preparations for Super Bowl LVIII against the San Francisco 49ers. "Certainly, Chris and LJ are at the top of the list.

"It's extremely hard because you have two keystone players there.''

Jones, 29, has been one of the NFL's top pass-rushers for years. He had 10.5 sacks this season to tie for the team lead after missing training camp and the first regular-season game while holding out for a new contract.

He didn't get the extension he was looking for, but the Chiefs sweetened the final season of his existing contract.

"It was important for us to mend the fences with Chris because we love him and he's an iconic player here, not just here, but I mean of all time,'' Veach said. "That was important for us, and we'll continue to work hard and see if we can get something done, but it will be a priority for us.''

The Chiefs used Sneed, 27, this season to defend against the opponent's top receiver much of the time, and none had big games against him.

Jones and Sneed are key players for an improved Chiefs defense that allowed fewer points than all but one other team during the regular season and held the Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens to 41 total points in the playoffs.

The Chiefs had defenses that were at times competitive since Patrick Mahomes became their starting quarterback in 2018, but rarely were they consistently so. Veach and the Chiefs found the task of building a top defense difficult because the past few seasons they were carrying Mahomes' massive contract.

"I still remember in '17 and '18 just saying if we can just get them to punt just once we've got a shot,'' Veach said. "Now all of a sudden it's like all we've got to do is just score once and we're good.

"Going from where we were in '17 and '18 to having one of the best defenses, knowing the constraints we had of just paying [Mahomes] and probably drafting later [in rounds], I don't think I ever envisioned having a top one or two defense.''

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/...-ljarius-sneed

[O.city]

Draft your outside wrs

Value in fa ain’t there

[MahomesMagic]

Originally Posted by Bowser

Both of those guys are sure handed and great route runners, exactly what we should look for opposite of Rice, but I just don't think they'll be under consideration due to age alone.

Their targets are under the radar guys who are 5 or 6 years younger that bring the same qualities Lockett and Renfroe do (seems obvious to say it out loud, lol). So, who are those guys?

If you want a younger Lockett style/impact then you sign Hollywood Brown or Darnell Mooney.

Both have 4.3 speed, run nice routes, and can threaten to take the top off.

[Chris Meck]

Originally Posted by MahomesMagic

I like Renfrow but right now we are using Rice as a bully slot so we should be spending our FA $$$ on outside WR's.

Obviously we know guys like

Evans
Ridley
Hollywood
Mooney

are options.

I would add Donovan Peoples-Jones as a cheap MVS replacement. Grab him for 3-4 million and then add one of the guys above plus a draft pick on a WR and we are back to scary on offense again if we get LT handled well.

DPJ is not a deep speed guy. 4.48 at the combine. The current Chief he most resembles is Rice, actually. I'm not against taking a look; he's still young, and has had a productive season. But he's not the deep burner.

And you could probably get Mooney and DPJ for what we would pay MVS. I'd call that a win and draft a guy in the top 64 and get on with my life.

[MahomesMagic]

Originally Posted by Chris Meck

DPJ is not a deep speed guy. 4.48 at the combine. The current Chief he most resembles is Rice, actually. I'm not against taking a look; he's still young, and has had a productive season. But he's not the deep burner.

And you could probably get Mooney and DPJ for what we would pay MVS. I'd call that a win and draft a guy in the top 64 and get on with my life.

Nor is Gabe Davis but he is a vertical threat.

DPJ is not a must have but someone that could add additional depth if the $$$ are right.

[Chris Meck]

Originally Posted by MahomesMagic

Nor is Gabe Davis but he is a vertical threat.

DPJ is not a must have but someone that could add additional depth if the $$$ are right.

Like I said, I'm not opposed to taking a flier on him, but he's not an MVS replacement.

If you've got him, Mooney, and Rice, maybe you don't need a strictly speed guy. Or maybe you just bring Hardman back for that.

[ForeverIowan]

Originally Posted by pugsnotdrugs19

Maybe we are point blank missing the offseason pathway which feels so obviously right in front of our faces.

This draft class is being lauded for incredible strength at WR and OT. Fill the offensive needs there and inject youth into the unit that needs it most.

Spend your money on Chris and LJ.

The team is 10000% certifiably better entering 2024.

Mahomes had some interesting comments after the Super Bowl and I am parphrasing here but he pretty much said after the 1st Super Bowl win against the 49ers the following year their motto of course was "run it back" and they pretty much tried to run it back with the exact same roster. Mahomes pretty much implied that was a huge mistake in hindsight and you can always improve in the offseason.

It would make sense to try to resign the exact same defense and draft a receiver and tackle in the 1st and 2nd rounds but I have a feeling Veach and company have more in store this offseason.

[MahomesMagic]

Originally Posted by Chris Meck

Like I said, I'm not opposed to taking a flier on him, but he's not an MVS replacement.

If you've got him, Mooney, and Rice, maybe you don't need a strictly speed guy. Or maybe you just bring Hardman back for that.

Right, I wouldn't want him as the primary MVS replacement.

I would want Hollywood or Mooney for that. But he would be an additional outside vertical threat.


Not done evaluating the WR's but right now liking Keon Coleman as a possession #1 we could get with our 1st round pick.

Keon Coleman
Rashee Rice
Darnell Mooney
JPB (maybe call him the Mecole replacement if you will...)

and Kelce

equals pain for the rest of the NFL.

[RunKC]

Originally Posted by Bowser

Both of those guys are sure handed and great route runners, exactly what we should look for opposite of Rice, but I just don't think they'll be under consideration due to age alone.

Their targets are under the radar guys who are 5 or 6 years younger that bring the same qualities Lockett and Renfroe do (seems obvious to say it out loud, lol). So, who are those guys?

Good reminder that Veach has been very cut throat about age. Kelce is the only 30+ player Veach has paid and a big part of that is Kelce is underpaid relative to WR's, DL and OL. He's a steal.

If a guy like Lockett is signed it will be bc he's giving us a great deal. Not sure that happens.

[RunKC]

Originally Posted by O.city

Draft your outside wrs

Value in fa ain’t there

If they can draft a good route running WR like a faster/taller version of Jordan Addison or Zay Flowers than the offense looks significantly better.

[Chris Meck]

guys, back to the OP-

I've been thinking a lot about this, and looking over the post game analysis...

I don't think you can sign both Sneed and Jones. I mean, you can, but it's too much of a tread water move. It means you're relying on the draft and dumpster diving.

I have previously been on the sign Sneed train, and let Jonesy walk. (no, you can't realistically tag him.)

I think I'm flipping my thinking here. Here's why:

1)This front office/coaching staff have shown themselves to be exceptional at identifying and developing DB talent.
2)Sneed is great, no question. The knee does seem to be an ongoing thing.
3)If you let Jones walk, you maybe get the comp 3rd depending on who you sign. Maybe you get nothing.
4)If you tag and trade Sneed, you get something in return. And you STILL have a loaded young DB group. We've won big games without Sneed. We haven't without Jones. What would we get? Maybe a 2nd? An extra 2nd is not nothing.

I think Jonesy is still the same guy over a couple to three more years.

I think I'm in the keep Jones, tag and trade Sneed camp.

[ForeverIowan]

Not saying Im advocating for it whatsoever but what do people think we would get in a trade for Sneed? He just turned 27 and is arguably the best corner in the league. Two firsts?

As an Iowa State fan go watch some film of TJ Tampa who is projected as a late first/early 2nd round pick. He is a Spags guy through and through. 6'2" athletic freak. Extremely physical corner.

I type that out and it just seems so moronic. I just don't see any scneario you trade him unless his contract demand just gets asinine.

[ForeverIowan]

Originally Posted by ForeverIowan

Not saying Im advocating for it whatsoever but what do people think we would get in a trade for Sneed? He just turned 27 and is arguably the best corner in the league. Two firsts?

As an Iowa State fan go watch some film of TJ Tampa who is projected as a late first/early 2nd round pick. He is a Spags guy through and through. 6'2" athletic freak. Extremely physical corner.


I type that out and it just seems so moronic. I just don't see any scneario you trade him unless his contract demand just gets asinine.

If the Bears call and offer pick # 9 for Sneed you doing it? Go get Malik Nabers to pair with Rashee Rice and Kelce. Draft a Sneed replacement with pick #32 (TJ Tampa).

[pugsnotdrugs19]

I think you’d probably get a late 1 + a 4th or 5th for Sneed realistically

[Basileus777]

Veach wouldn't be able to drag a tag and trade scenario out, they'd need that money free to use on their free agent targets. It's not a scenario for maximizing trade value.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by ForeverIowan

If the Bears call and offer pick # 9 for Sneed you doing it? Go get Malik Nabers to pair with Rashee Rice and Kelce. Draft a Sneed replacement with pick #32 (TJ Tampa).

I don't think there's any way someone offers that much.

Originally Posted by pugsnotdrugs19

I think you’d probably get a late 1 + a 4th or 5th for Sneed realistically

There are a lot of teams that would match, but it also is a really good CB draft.

The Rams at 19, the Eagles at 22, the Packers at 25, and the Lions at 29 would all be fits.

I'd shudder at sending him to the Packers, though, because I think there would be a good chance you see Sneed on the opposite sideline in New Orleans.

If you could get 29 from the Lions, that would be pretty stellar.

There isn't much track record for trading a CB, though.